Herhial truss



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S. S. RITTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

dHERNIAL Tnuss.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,94*?, dated May 10, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. Rrr'rnn, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Surgical Truss; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

By long experience and the trial of a great variety of surgical trusses, I have discovered that the most desirable hernial truss consisted of a spring in front of the body, with the two ends of the spring connected by a strap. I have also found that such truss better presents a convex curvature toward the body in front, so that, in the application of the truss, the two ends of the spring shall stand away from the body, in order to allow the strap to act with considerable leverage upon the ends.

By recent experiments I have discovered 4 that a softer spring may be elfectually employed, and the ends of the spring may have less curvature, so that the strapy may bring the ends exactly to fit the curvature of the body. This change in the curvature of the spring, I find in practice to afford a remarkable degree of ease to all patients wearing my truss.

My invention consists in the construction of surgical trusses having a spring` of a peculiar curvature, said spring extending about around the body, while a strap or band connects the ends of the spring and forms the other half of the girdle.

It also consists in an improved truss pad.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a surgical truss with my improvements. Fig. 2, shows the spring and slides, with the covering, strap and pads removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detached pad. Fig. 4, is a direct view of the face of the pad. Fig. 5, shows the slide isolated from the other parts. Fig. 6, is a screw for adjusting the pads. Fig. 7, is a view of the edge of the spring.

In the construction of the spring, I prefer to employ two or more plates of metal as seen in Fig. 7, at A, B, for the purpose of obtaining greater softness and elasticity with any given amount of power in the spring. Yet a very good spring may be made of a single plate of metal.

In Fig. 7, A is on the side intended to come next to the body of the patient. It will be seen that this side of the spring is very convex,-just the reverse of the usual truss springs. Near each end, the spring curves in the opposite direction. The greater curvature in the middle is intended to give sufficient tension to the spring by tightening the strap D.

The curvatures near the end should not be abrupt, but should be gradual, so that the concavity will fit around the hips.

By this construction, the strap D, brings the two ends of the spring to bear upon the hips or pelvis in such a manner as to keep the pad almost imniovably in place, and yet to allow great freedom of motion to the body, without any improper pressure.

This kind of spring may be used with the abdominal, umbilical or perineal pad, with all the advantages it possesses' for inguinal hernia.

The slide, Fig. 5, and E, Fig. 2, may be of the usual form, having a hinge and an adjusting screw, seen at Fig. 6 and at S, Fig. 5.

My improved pad is seen in perspecthfe at Fig. 4t. In the center of the face of the pad is a prominence Gr, Figs. 3, and 4l, almost hel'nispherical. Around the margin of the face of the pad is a ridge I-I, and between this ridge and the central prominence is a groove or depression, I. The prominence G,

the ridge I-I and the annular groove I may be somewhat varied, according to the condition of the hernia, the corpulence or leanness'of the patient, and other circumstances.

The pad is most conveniently made from wood by the use of the turning lathe. It is far cheaper than any other pad heretofore known.

I am aware that truss pads have been made with an adjustable center and also with a ball surrounded by a separate ring. I have also myself'employed a. short spring in front, curved somewhat like the above described spring; I do not therefore claim these features in this application.

The difference between the spring in my patented truss and the one above described, is chiefly in the curvature at the end of the spring. In my patented truss this curvature is abrupt and not intended to lit the body, but on the contrary, to give an extraordinary leverage to the straps, and greater pressure upon the whole spring.

drawings, the spring has a more gradual or In the less curvature near the ends, intended to fit more closely upon the body and give less leverage to the straps, which in my present truss act upon a softer spring, holding the pad in place by a much easier,a less rigid though perfectly secure pressure of the spring. The abrupt curvature of the spring in my patent forbids the ends being pressed home so closely upon the body as may be done with my present improvement. With the old spring, the ends of the spring may more easily move upon the pelvis, and if pressed down, the ends Will chate the patient.

In my improved form of spring, the strap may be drawn tighter and hold the ends of the spring against the pelvis, giving great ease and comfort in Wearing the truss. Therefore I do .not here claim the use of a short spring forming the front part of the girdle, when it is not curved substantially as above described. Neither do I broadly claim making a pad of Wood or in one piece.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The construction of a surgical truss having a short spring with one or more plates of metal, extending in front about half around the body, and held by-a strap or straps forming the other half of the girdle, when the said spring is curved, as shown in Fig. 7 for the purpose of making a more agreeable pressure upon the hernia; and for fitting the ends of the spring better to the hips, thus rendering the truss more comfortable to the patient, substantially as described.

2. I claim the above described pad (Figs. 3 and 4), having a central prominence surrounded by a groove and ridge, when the face of said pad is made in one piece substantially as set forth.

S. S. RITTER. VVit-nesses Gr. BREED, DANIEL BREED. 

